Upgrade to LSi9's

POIDOG
POIDOG Posts: 391
edited July 2009 in Speakers
I'm looking to upgrade my RTi8's to LSi9's. so I have a couple of
questions:confused:


#1) currently running CSi5 for center & will need to hang on to this
for a while. Will this blend with the LSi's

#2) Currenly using XPA-3 for the front end. Will the Amp play nice
with 4 & 8 ohm loads?

Let me know your thougts :) I listen to a lot of music; 80/20 split
which is why I'm intrigued by the LSi's.

Bill
Post edited by POIDOG on
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Comments

  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited July 2009
    If music is what you're after then the LSi'9's are a good choice. It'll do just fine when paired with your Emotiva.
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited July 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    If music is what you're after then the LSi'9's are a good choice. It'll do just fine when paired with your Emotiva.

    So the 4 & 8 ohm mix for now will be fine :confused:
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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,145
    edited July 2009
    POIDOG wrote: »

    #1) currently running CSi5 for center & will need to hang on to this
    for a while. Will this blend with the LSi's

    It won't sound terrible, but the answer is basically, "no". I just got rid of my CSi5 and put in an LSiC. Previously the CSi5 seemed to overpower the LSi9's. Now it really blends so much better and the front stage is a lot more coherent. I like the LSiC better also. It is smaller and the voices sound more clearer. Overall much happier with the upgrade.

    If you don't use the HT that much then just keep the CSi5 until you can get the LSiC, but you will be glad once you do switch.
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  • dane_peterson
    dane_peterson Posts: 1,903
    edited July 2009
    You'll be happy with the LSis for music. But they're much more laid back than the RTi line. There will be a noticeable transition from center stage to L/R.

    Fortunately for you, the CSi5 is more sought after than its counterparts in resale. I may end up building my HT around RTis some day... as I'll have another room dedicated for music.
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,243
    edited July 2009
    dane_peterson wrote: »

    Fortunately for you, the CSi5 is more sought after than its counterparts in resale.

    Agreed. With all the LSiC's for sale in the FM, you might be able to make this upgrade without much money out of pocket.

    BTW, love my 9's powered with an XPA-5 for both music and movies.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • camel_89si
    camel_89si Posts: 43
    edited July 2009
    My old man has a 7.1 system with LSi-15's as fronts and an LSiC. The sides and surrounds are all RTi matched, FXi-A6's. It sounds fine to me.. but as others have always said, having your front sound stage matched is very important.

    And as far as the 4/8 ohm load, you should be just fine.

    I'd say you'll be fine for now, but in the long run you will be much happier with an LSiC.
    Receiver: Yamaha RX-V863
    Center: PolkAudio CSi-A6
    Fronts: PolkAudio RTi-A1
    Surrounds: PolkAudio RTi-A1
    Subwoofer: Emotiva Ultra Sub 12
    TV: Toshiba 46" 1080p 120hz LCD
    Blu-Ray, DVD & Gaming: Playstation 3
    Logitech Harmony One Remote
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  • john22614
    john22614 Posts: 214
    edited July 2009
    I made the same move a few years ago when I upgraded to the 9's. At that time I had a csi400 center that was a very good speaker but didn't quite match the LSI's. I used them together for a couple years and really didn't have a problem. Ultimately got the LSIc which was smaller, lighter and sounded a bit better. Most of the dialogue in HT comes from the center and the gain on your processor can easily balance the volume between center and the mains. I don't think blending will be that big of an issue for you.

    I think you will really like the 9's and see a big improvement. They are very impressive for both music and HT.
    B&W 804s mains
    B&W HTM4 center
    Polk PSW 1000 sub
    Outlaw 990 Pre Amp
    Anthem MCA 30 Amp
    Monitor Radius 180 surrounds
    Audiosource Stereo Amp for surrounds
    Denon 2910 Universal DVD/SACD Player
    Comcast DVR
    Pioneer Elite 42" Plasma 940 HD
    Harmony Universal Remote
    Blue Jeans interconnects and biwires
    Itunes Air Express
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  • devani
    devani Posts: 1,497
    edited July 2009
    XPA-3 will be fine with music with LSi9 and CSi5...like others said it's great for music
    Video: LG 55LN5100/Samsung LNT4065F
    Receiver: HK AVR445
    Source: OPPO BDP-93
    HT: POLK SPEAKERS RTi6, FXi3, CSi5, VTF-3 MK2
    2Ch system: MC2105, AR-XA, AR-2A, AR9, BX-300, OPPO BDP-83
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited July 2009
    maximillian wrote: »
    .....Previously the CSi5 seemed to overpower the LSi9's.....

    That may be due to the difference in sensitivity between them. The CSi5 was louder because it is more efficient. It would probably sound fine if level-matched with the mains. Yes, there will be differences, but I wouldn't think them intolerable......
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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,145
    edited July 2009
    LessisNevermore wrote: »
    That may be due to the difference in sensitivity between them. The CSi5 was louder because it is more efficient. It would probably sound fine if level-matched with the mains. Yes, there will be differences, but I wouldn't think them intolerable......

    I did an autocal and also tried manual level adjust. Although I got it to a point where is sounded fine for most movies I seemed to find movies where it was either too much or lacking at times depending on the setting. I didn't realize how mismatched it was until I tried the LSiC. The "brighter" tweeter of the CSi5 was probably what was throwing my off.

    I watched the movie 300 with the new matched front end and it really surprised how much better it sounded. It's odd, but even the FSi3's sounded better. I think it's because with all my adjusting I would sometimes drown them out too.
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited July 2009
    maximillian wrote: »
    I did an autocal and also tried manual level adjust. Although I got it to a point where is sounded fine for most movies I seemed to find movies where it was either too much or lacking at times depending on the setting. I didn't realize how mismatched it was until I tried the LSiC. The "brighter" tweeter of the CSi5 was probably what was throwing my off.

    Yeah, the auto cal might have made an adjustment at say, 2000Hz for all the speakers. It probably tamed the peak at that frequency on the LSi's, but if the FR of the CSi had a boost at 2500Hz, the auto cal probably did nothing for it. If the CSi was the only oddball, the corrections were probably averaged by the reciever, as if they were matched.

    Lots of things affect how well mismatched speakers will play with one another, like room modes, how many octave bands the auto cal works within, and the frequency response of the speakers, etc.

    Bottom line, tweak it until you can live with it long enough to upgrade.
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  • soundnation
    soundnation Posts: 5
    edited July 2009
    I have a brand new set of LSi 9's for sale. Feel free to email me if you're interested.

    soundnation@gmail.com
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited July 2009
    xcapri79 wrote: »
    I love listening to Led Zeppelin on a pair of LSi9s.

    I like that idea :D :cool: ;)
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited July 2009
    Ok guys, thanks for all your input. The LSi9's are on the way. However, I tried something different. I had the RTi8's biwired with some nice 14 awg wire. Had some AQ Type 4's sitting around :confused: I placed these on the RTi8's in a single wire config. and to my surprise :) they became less bright and even more detailed. I'm looking forward to hear the Type 4's on the LSI9's. Just some rants, no point.
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  • Bernal
    Bernal Posts: 991
    edited July 2009
    POIDOG wrote: »
    I like that idea :D :cool: ;)
    Hi,
    In music: LSI is to hear angels sing.
    The best advice is to maintain balance and do not mix.
    4 Ohms is good. Bi-Wiring: LSI at best.:).



    01) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
    02) SUNFIRE Grand Signature - Bob Carver's
    03) OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
    04) DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport (change for a OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player will be available soon)
    05) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
    06) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
    07) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
    08) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
    09) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround speaker)
    10) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround speaker)
    11) VELODYNE OPTIMUN SERIES (High Output Digital EQ SubWoofer 2400W/1200WRMS)
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited July 2009
    I been using the 9's for about a week now and am very happy. I still have my RTi8's because I wasn't to sure about the change, but at this point I believe I'll sell them.

    I've been listening to a lot of CDs and like what I hear. The 9's are "laid back" and detailed. To me, the 8's were great, but the 9's are superb :D In fact, once the 9's started singing, people at home noticed the difference and commented,

    I've changed the sub xover to 100hz and the 9's seem to like, any comments on this?
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  • unclepauly
    unclepauly Posts: 65
    edited July 2009
    I'm about to do the same thing but don't have an amp. You think the 9's will be an improvement over the 8's on something like an Onk 805? Or a cheaper pio elite?
    Currently looking for speakers(spending 1K)
    Onkyo 805
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  • dorourke07
    dorourke07 Posts: 298
    edited July 2009
    My LSi9's have helped me rediscover all the cd's I have been collecting over the years. They open up so much more than I heard before. Its been a great few months.

    -D7
    Mains - LSi9's
    Center - LSiC
    Surround - pair of TL3's
    Amplification - Parasound 2125
    AVR - Onkyo 706
    CD/SACD - Onkyo DV-SP506
    SUB - MartinLogan Abyss
    55" Panasonic Viera TC-P55GT30 3D
    Bluray - DMP-BDT310 Panasonic
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited July 2009
    unclepauly wrote: »
    I'm about to do the same thing but don't have an amp. You think the 9's will be an improvement over the 8's on something like an Onk 805? Or a cheaper pio elite?

    I've been pretty happy with the change. Don't know about the receivers you mentioned, but the LSi9's sound excellent, They seem much tamer & more robust then the RTi8's. Not a technical explanation, but they are sweet:D
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